Meaningful, it's not. Insightful, it's not. Laden with philosophical, social, political or artistic nuances, it's not. Heck, even director Joe Deer says it's not profound.
But, boy, is The 39 Steps funny, as audiences will find out when the Human Race Theatre Company production runs at The Loft Theatre October 21 - November 7."It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen," says Deer, a Human Race Resident Artist who knows funny when he sees it - after all, he directed Lend Me A Tenor and Five Course Love at The Loft.Patrick Barlow's loving spoof of the Hitchcock thriller of the same title is so funny, it even gets mutual raves from those who usually have very opposing viewpoints. The New York Times and New York Daily News don't agree on much, but The Times called The 39 Steps "an absurdly enjoyable, gleefully theatrical riff" and The Daily News called it "a dizzy delight and ingenious spoof."The spoof is not just of the1935 movie, but of all things Hitchcockesque. Pay attention between guffaws and you'll notice scenes from Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho - you name it - with, of course, a chase across the top of a moving train.
All those scenes are played by just four performers, portraying about 150 characters.Richard Marlatt - last seen in Dayton in Moonlight and Magnolias at The Victoria Theatre and Lend Me A Tenor at The Loft - is Richard Hannay, a typical Hitchcock hero caught up in an intrigue he doesn't understand, pursued by both police and the bad guys. Allison Moody, also in Lend Me A Tenor, plays a typical Hitchcock blonde heroine and two other women.That leaves all the rest of the roles to Bruce Cromer Vertical Hour, Brother Wolf and Jake Lockwood Rounding Third, Man of La Mancha, who fly through costume changes and character adjustments to portray everything from lingerie salesmen to Scottish crofters, as well both the cops and the baddies. While Cromer may be more known to local theatergoers for his serious roles, he has a long resume on the comedic side, and had plenty of practice playing multiple roles at The Loft for the solo play I Am My Own Wife, and Lockwood got plenty of practice at the old switcheroos during A Tuna Christmas.
The set is key to The 39 Steps, and The Human Race brought 2003 Oakwood High graduate Adam Koch home from New York for the design. Koch has rapidly risen in the industry, among other things designing for the much-awarded long-running Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago.The 39 Steps has played mostly in large proscenium theatres in London, New York and on tour, so the 219-seat The Loft presents a chance to turn into a more intimate experience. "It will be a totally fun evening," promises Deer.Heather Jackson is Stage Manager for the production. Janet Powell is doing the costumes, John Rensel the lights, Nathan Dean the sound and Heather Powell the props.The 39 Steps, the second production of the 2010-2011 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race, will have a preview October 21 and official opening night October 22, with performances through November 7. Tickets are available via www.humanracetheatre.org <http://www.humanracetheatre.org> or by calling Ticket Center Stage at 937 228-3630.
Production sponsors are App Architecture, Marion's Piazza, One Lincoln Park, Two Friends and Rand Oliver and Penny Profitt.Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 219-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces for the Victoria Theatre's Broadway Series, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director Kevin Moore, also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock, and The Human Race Conservatory. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Shubert Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
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